The German program at Muskingum University centers on the study of the German language, the literary and artistic production of German-speaking cultures, and increasingly, the practical applications of German within the global economy.

Student Opportunities

Internships

Business Internship, Deggendorf University of Applied Sciences, Germany. International business students studying for a year at our exchange partner university in Deggendorf, Germany are eligible for spring semester internships in Germany through various agencies and organizations

The Department of World Languages assists students seeking paid or volunteer internships in Germany through various agencies and organizations

Internships are available at the University of Passau, Germany to German majors who study at Passau for one year

Students may arrange independent research projects (1-3 credit hours) to be conducted in German or English. The projects may optionally include a field research component in a German-speaking place. Students may research an area of interest in literature, language, culture, or business.

Senior Seminar research projects center on a specific area of German literature, culture, international business, or international affairs. Recent research projects have included German literature after 1945, German film, Nazi-propaganda literature, and German Expressionism. Research writing and methodology are emphasized. Results are presented to the faculty of the department in an oral presentation and a written paper. Senior students have the option of presenting their research paper at the Undergraduate Conference at Butler University, Indiana. The department provides transportation and accommodation. (http://www.muskingum.edu/~modern/butler/muskingum.html)

Honoraries

Phi Sigma Iotarecognizes outstanding ability and high standards of students and faculty of foreign languages, literatures and cultures (including classics, linguistics, philology, comparative literature, ESL, bilingual education, and second language acquisition). It is the highest academic honor in the field of foreign languages. Phi Sigma Iota has initiated over 60,000 members since its foundation in 1917, and it has created and supports numerous scholarship programs.

Employment

The Department of World Languages employs approximately three students as language lab assistants annually, including one student lab manager. In addition, the department employs a student assistant.

Professional Activities

Students pursuing a teaching career have the opportunity to attend the Central States Conference, the American Association of Teachers of German and the annual meeting of the Ohio Foreign Language Association. Student scholarships are available.

Student Stories

Carter Eberwine of Coshocton, Ohio, graduated this past spring (2014) with a B.S. degree in Chemistry, Biology, Political Science, and German.

Carter chose Muskingum because he felt the small class sizes would provide “opportunities for me to build good student-professor relationships and strive in my classes.” He also hoped the small campus community would allow him to gain leadership positions.

Carter was the president of his fraternity, the Stag Club; a member of Tri-Beta (Biology Honorary), Pi Sigma Alpha (Political Science Honorary), Lambda Sigma (Sophomore Honorary), and ODK, the junior-senior honorary. He also served on Student Senate.

Last summer, Carter spent two months interning in a hospital in Munich, Germany, where he worked in the gastroenterology department on a project that was “aimed toward correlating obesity and diet with the severity of chronic esophageal inflammation and Barrett’s Esophagus.” Carter found the internship by e-mailing research hospitals in Germany and asking if they were able to accept interns.

His internship in Germany is not the only travel experience Carter has had. In the summer of 2012, he traveled for two months in Europe. Carter explains: “In the United Kingdom and Germany I distributed surveys for my senior seminar in Political Science. This project was entitled ‘Which Factors Most Influence Europeans’ Opinions on the United States?’ and the survey tested four different variables that were hypothesized to have an effect on these opinions. The research was successful and I was invited to present my paper at the Midwest Political Science Association’s annual conference in Chicago, Illinois.”

Before coming to Muskingum, Carter says, he “did not realize that so many international opportunities or leadership positions existed here.

Matt Mayforth (’12) teaches in Austria as Fulbright recipient

Muskingum University senior Matt Mayforth will be spending a second year in Braunau am Inn, Austria, as an English Teaching Assistant scholarship through the 2012-2013 Fulbright U.S. Student Program.
The Fulbright Program, established in 1946, is the largest American international exchange program and is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. The prestigious Fulbright U.S. Student Program competition offers opportunities for students and young professionals to teach in elementary and secondary schools worldwide, and to undertake international graduate study and advanced research. The Austrian Federal Ministry for Education, Arts and Culture is underwriting Mayforth’s Fulbright support.

As a student, Mayforth has studied abroad at Muskingum’s partner universities in both Passau, Germany, and Toledo, Spain. On campus, Mayforth was involved in the German Club and Phi Sigma Iota, the international foreign language honor society. In addition, he was a resident of the university’s German House, and also actively engaged with both German- and Spanish-speaking students who have travelled to Muskingum from abroad.

Karen DeBaldo (’13) received the Dr. Henry Ward Church Scholarship while at Muskingum, the highest honor granted by Phi Sigma Iota, the international foreign language honor society. DeBaldo, a German and education major, wass the second student at Muskingum to earn the Church scholarship, which is granted to only one student in the United States.

During her career at Muskingum, DeBaldo amassed a long list of academic achievements and honors. In April, she was selected to present a paper at the Kentucky Foreign Language Conference. In 2010, DeBaldo received Muskingum's Mary E. Sharp Award for Excellence in German. In 2011, she was inducted into Phi Sigma Iota, as well as Phi Kappa Phi, the nation’s oldest and largest honor society dedicated to excellence in all academic pursuits. In 2013, DeBaldo received a scholarship to attend the Ohio Foreign Language Association Conference in Columbus, where she attended conferences related to her interest in teaching German. In both 2010 and 2012, she studied at Passau University in Germany, in both a semester-long program and a summer language immersion program.

At Muskingum, DeBaldo was involved in the German Club and the university’s Phi Sigma Iota chapter. In addition, she was a resident of the university’s German House and was actively engaged with both German- and Spanish-speaking students who have travelled to Muskingum from abroad.

Ryan Bobst ('07) earned a Master's of Education in College Student Personnel in Higher Education at Ohio University-Athens. In his two-year graduate program he opted for an emphasis on International Education, becoming involved with Study Abroad, International Admissions, and International Student Services. Ryan now works for the University of San Diego School of Law as an Assistant Director for Graduate and International Programs. He majored in International Affairs and German at Muskingum. He was a participant in the German Club and worked as a Student Assistant for the Coordinator of International Student Services.

Jennica Magers (‘06) graduated from Bowling Green State University with a MA in German. She spent her first year as a graduate student in Salzburg, Austria, as a student teacher. Jennica was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship for 2008-2009 in Vienna, Austria. While at Muskingum, Jennica majored in German and International Affairs. She spent a year at Passau University, Germany in 2004-5.

Nandin Ganbold ('05) graduated summa cum laude in Business, International Business, Economics and German. She studied in Germany at the University of Deggendorf (2003-2004). Nandin also completed an internship in the Quality Management department of Medtronic Sofamor Danek Deggendorf GmbH, a German division of a company headquartered in Memphis, TN that makes spinal implants. Nandin lives in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

David Hurtuk (’03), was German, International Business, Business and Economics major, works as a Vice President for PNC Bank in Cleveland, OH.

Study Abroad

Visit Study Abroad to learn more about the many exciting opportunities for travel and study open to all Muskingum students. Recent stories from our German program include:

David Pitre (’13), Computer Science major/minor in German, participated in the summer program at Passau University (August, 2012). He also spent the winter semester at Passau University and returned in February 2013.

Carrie Liff (’13), a German major, took part in the summer program at Passau University in 2011.

Chris Hill (’12), Psychology, Political Science, Philosophy, participated in the immersion program at Passau University in the summer of 2011. He graduated with a minor in German.

Kayla Vega (’13)German, studied at Passau University fall 2010. She also participated in the intensive language immersion program at Passau University in August of 2010.

Derek and Ryan Reichley (’12), Public Accounting, studied at Deggendorf University in the fall of 2011. Both also graduated with a minor in German.

Preston Oakley (’12) , Economics, minor in German studied at Deggendorf University in the fall of 2010 taking classes in International Management.

Tanner MacLaine (’12), German and International Business, spent the spring semester of 2011 at Deggendorf University taking classes in International Business and German.

Jenna Merckle (’10), German/International Business, spent the fall semester of 2009 at Deggendorf University taking classes in German and International Business.

Lucas Pattison (’10), German, studied at Lüneburg University in the summer of 2007 and at Passau University in the spring of 2008.

Amay Malik (’10) , Accounting/German, studied at Lüneburg University in the summer of 2007 and at Passau University in the spring of 2008.

*English Teaching Assistantships are available at Deggendorf University in Germany. These paid (up to 500 Euros), semester or year-long assistantships involve teaching English to German university students. Most recently, a Muskingum student has been selected for a one year position at Deggedorf.

NEW: Starting in October, Deggendorf Institute of Technology will be offering a General Engineering course for English speaking students. Learn more...

Honoraries

Phi Sigma Iotarecognizes outstanding ability and high standards of students and faculty of foreign languages, literatures and cultures (including classics, linguistics, philology, comparative literature, ESL, bilingual education, and second language acquisition). It is the highest academic honor in the field of foreign languages. Phi Sigma Iota has initiated over 60,000 members since its foundation in 1917, and it has created and supports numerous scholarship program